A handy addition to watchOS 5 is the ability to use the internet on your Apple Watch. This is how you view websites on the smart watch.
Apple Watch internet: this is how you view websites
To get straight to the point: viewing websites on your Apple Watch is a lot more limited than on your iPhone or iPad. The function is especially useful to quickly open a link so that you have an impression of the site.
This is how you view websites on your Apple Watch:
- Open the Messages or Mail app on your Apple Watch (Series 3 or later);
- Search in a text message or email for a link and tap it;
- You will now see an optimized version of the website.
Turn the Digital Crown to navigate the web page. Thanks to the reader view, the websites are made smaller so that they fit on the screen. For example, striking images are removed: the focus is on text.
→ Also check our watchOS 5 review
Not for all Apple Watches
You need at least watchOS 5 and an Apple Watch Series 3 or Series 4 to use the internet. There is no Safari app available for the smartwatch, so the options are limited. You can therefore only click on links that you have received, for example in a text message or e-mail. Once the website is open, you can tap on other links.
The biggest drawback to surfing the web on your Apple Watch, however, is the screen size. If you plan to visit a few websites, grab your iPad or iPhone. In addition, many videos do not work properly, for example, when you try to play them with the Apple Watch.
Read more about watchOS 5
- Apple releases watchOS 6.1.3 with a bug fix for heart rate notifications (2/18/2020)
- Tip: This is how you make a heart video with your Apple Watch (2/9/2020)
- Apple releases watchOS 5.3.2 for Watch Series 4 (9-10-2019)
- Apple is releasing iOS 12.4.2 and watchOS 5.3.2 for older iPhones and Apple Watches (9/26/2019)
- watchOS 5.3 and updates for macOS, tvOS and HomePod are rolling out (7/22/2019)